DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS : 17 – 18 APRIL 2021 .12.2018 NATIONAL World 1st affordable and long-lasting hygiene product DuroKea Series unveiled by Education Minister Education Minister .2018Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched World 1st affordable and long-lasting hygiene product DuroKea Series. This next generation .11.2018DuroKea antimicrobial technology starts at 189 rupees, kills 99.99 per cent of germs instantly and leaves behind the long-lasting protective nanoscale coating up to 35 days till next wash. Researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad has developed these innovative technologies to combat COVID-19 virus spreading. Mr Pokhriyal said that Durokea Product is aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attain self reliance. He said, the unique property of DuroKea range is to ensure instant killing, within 60 second and prolonged protection which is an immense necessity during this current pandemic situation. Indian Air Force Commanders‟ Conference 2021 concluded The Indian Air Force Commanders‟ Conference 2021, themed „Reorienting for the Future‟ concluded at Air headquarters in New Delhi. The three day conference saw detailed deliberations on ways and means to enhance the operational capabilities of the IAF. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the seven commands and key appointments from Air headquarters attended the conference. The conference was addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Chief of Defence Staff, Navy Chief and Army Chief also addressed the conference and interacted with the commanders on subjects of future war-fighting through joint planning and integration of service capabilities. The actions and follow-up plans for implementing the directions given by Prime Minister during the Combined Commanders‟ Conference were discussed by the participants. Tourism and Culture Minister initiates first-ever online exhibition on Ramayana Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated the first-ever online exhibition on Ramayana. The weblink for the online exhibition is nmvirtual.in/Virtual_Tour/Ramayan. Mr Patel addressed a webinar „India‟s Heritage: Powering Tourism‟ on the occasion of World Heritage Day 2021. The online exhibition showcases forty nine miniature paintings collections of National Museum, New Delhi from different art schools of India. Mr Patel said that India has a unique heritage of temples, dance, music, shastras which cannot be found anywhere in the world. STATE GOVT NEWS DRDO to build its dedicated Corona hospital in New Delhi The dedicated Covid hospital re-established by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will become operational. The hospital has been established near Domestic Airport Terminal in New Delhi. It has 500 ICU beds. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that 250 beds will be ready and it will be increased to 500 within a few days. He said, all beds are equipped with oxygen facilities and sufficient number of ventilators is available. A medical team drawn from the Armed Forces will look after the facility. The facility will be available free of cost. J&K LG to share his thoughts through radio programme “Awaam Ki Awaaz” In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will share his thoughts through the first episode of the monthly Radio Broadcast titled “Awaam Ki Awaaz”. It will be carried by all the AIR stations of Jammu and Kashmir apart from Doordarshan channels of DD-Kashir and DDK Jammu. The initiative is a leap towards strengthening the concept of “Jan Bhagidhari” by inviting the participation of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The “Awaam Ki Baat” is a half an hour long radio broadcast and will be aired every third Sunday of a month. 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web :www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] 1 DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS : 17 – 18 APRIL 2021 .12.2018 BANKING AND ECONOMIC Bharti Airtel unit Nettle acquires 100% stake in OneWeb India Nettle Infrastructure .2018Investments, a wholly-owned arm of Bharti Airtel has acquired 100% stake in OneWeb India Communications Pvt Ltd. OneWeb was incorporated.11.2018 on 04 February 2020 to carry on business activities and network services associated with the communications industry. OneWeb is a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications operator, co-owned by Bharti Global and the UK government. Recently, OneWeb launched 36 satellites by Arianespace from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia, paving the way for launching high-speed satellite broadband services in key global markets from late-2021, and in India by mid-2022. RBL Bank & Mastercard partner to launch “Pay by Bank App “ On April 15, RBL Bank and Mastercard revealed their partnership to introduce the Pay by Bank App, a mobile-based consumer-friendly payment solution that will be the first of its kind in India. It is a first-of-its-kind mobile-based customer-friendly payment solution, launched to suit the growing demand for digital, contactless payments to ensure social distancing norms amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through this RBL Bank account holders will be able to make contactless transactions across the world through their mobile banking application both in-store and online. The payment application includes bill payments and personal payments via the mobile banking application. DAY AND DATES World Haemophilia Day – Observed on Apr 17 World Haemophilia Dayis observed on 17 April every year to increase awareness about haemophilia disease and other inherited bleeding disorders. In 1989, World Haemophilia Day was started by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) in honour of WFH founder Frank Schnavel‟s birthday. The themefor the year 2021 World Hemophilia Day is „Adapting to Change, sustaining care in a new world.‟ This theme has been decided considering the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on people with a bleeding disorder and is it important for the world to stand together in this changing scenario. World Heritage Day – Observed on Apr 18 The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is an international observance held on 18 April each year around the world with different types of activities, including visits to monuments and heritage sites, conferences, round tables and newspaper articles. Theme for this year is „Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures‟. Check here all you need to know about the day. World Heritage Day is observed every year on April 18, to preserve the human heritage and recognize the efforts of the organizations working for it. The day is dedicated to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage through various activities undertaken by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Italyhas the highest number of Unesco heritage sites in the world. INTERNATIONAL Bui Thanh Son became new Foreign Minister of Vietnam External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar congratulated Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son on his recent appointment. Deputy Foreign Minister and seasoned diplomat Bui Thanh Son was appointed foreign minister During the telephonic conversation, both Ministers discussed development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and implementation of the Plan of Action. They recognised the convergence of India‟s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN‟s Indo- Pacific outlook. The Ministers also discussed the development partnership, economic engagements and health cooperation. Dr Jaishankar said, India and Vietnam will coordinate closely in multilateral forums and consult regularly on regional issues. 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web :www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] 2 DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS : 17 – 18 APRIL 2021 .12.2018 AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Moscow International Film Festival: Marathi Film „Puglya‟ bags Best Foreign Language Feature award .2018 The Marathi film “Puglya”has won the Best Foreign Language Feature award at Moscow International Film Festival,.11.2018 2021. The film Puglya has been directed and produced by Vinod Sam Peter under the banner Abraham Films. So far, this film has won over 45 awards and recognitions at various international film festivals. The film is yet to be released in India. Asian Wrestling Championships 2021: India clinches one Gold, two Bronze medals On April 16, 2021, Olympics-bound Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Anshu Malik clinched their maiden Asian Championship titles at Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is being held from April 13 to 18, 2021. India has a rich haul of seven medals from the women‟s event as the country won four gold, a silver and two bronze medals in this edition. Sarita Mor clinched the sole gold medal for India by defending the women‟s 59 kg title. MISCELLANEOUS India and France Inks Agreement for cooperation on Gaganyaan Mission Indian space agency, ISROhas signed an agreement with the space agency of France CNES for cooperation in its first human space mission, Gaganyaan. Under the agreement, CNES will provide equipment developed by it, tested and still operating aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to Indian crews. It will also supply fireproof carry bags made in France to shield equipment from shocks and radiation. CNES will train Indian flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams at French facilities. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal chairs first meeting